Home hints

Handy tips for the Christmas season and other great ideas for making life that little bit simpler.

Festive biscuits Cover clean, empty Pringles tins with Christmas wrap – they’re the ideal size to hold homemade biscuits. Pest power To control powdery mildew on tomato plants and other summer veges, mix 1 tablespoon each of baking soda, vegetable oil and dishwashing liquid in 4 litres of water and spray on plants weekly. Tight squeeze Remove excess water from thawed or steamed spinach by rolling it in a sushi mat on a tea towel or paper towels. Sleep tight Babies tend to sleep better if they can smell their mum, so try sleeping with a cot sheet or baby’s pyjamas in your own bed for a couple of days before using them for bub. A little loopy Store feather or lambswool dusters in an empty cardboard tube (such as one from paper towels). Add a hanging loop for convenience.

Brilliant buffet To make an eyecatching “grazing board” sand a 30cmwide plywood plank, finish it with foodquality kitchen bench oil and support it on timber battens.